Clutch mechanism



D. w. MORRIS 2,168,960.

CLUTCH MECHNISM Filed Jan. 31, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug- 8, 1939. D. w.Moms y 2,168,960

CLUTCH MEGHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1938. l@ J' 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2 g guardaiVPatented Aug. 8, 1939 PATENT OFFICE CLUTCH MECHANISM Donald w. Morris,Racine, wis.,

assignor to Twin Disc. Clutch Company, Racin Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Application January s1, 193s, serial No. 187,813 17 claims.(ci. `19a-411) My invention relates to a clutch mechanism for effectinga transmission of power between driving and driven shafts and is moreparticularly concerned with providing a mechanism of Q this character ofthe mechanically loaded type.

The present invention is preferably embodied in a dualclutchconstruction having a common clamping plate which is mechanicallyloaded, as distinguished from spring loading, when either clutch isengaged, the vclutch elements including the plate being preferablymounted in an enclosing casing to thereby permit the use of dryclutches, althoughl the construction may be o adapted to operate in anoil bath.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an operating meansfor engaging either clutch which includes 'a non-elastic train ofelements composed of co-acting levers and inclined I surfaces forapplying pressurevto the clamping plate.

A further object is to devise a clutch construction in,which theoperatingl levers are held in.

driving position against inadvertent release and maintained innon-rattling, release position by an arrangement which obviates the useof clamps. These and further objects., of my invention will be set forthin the following specification, ref erencelbeing had to the accompanyingdrawings, and the novel means by which said objects are effectuated willbe definitely pointed out in the claims. y

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elev tion of my im-A provedclutch mechanism as taien along the line I-I in-Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows, the common clamping plate for the clutchesbeing shown in neutral position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary. Sectional elevation corresponding to that shownin Fig. 1 and illustrating the clamping plate in position to engage oneofthe clutches;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the partly in' section, as viewed in theVthe arrow 3 in 1,; Fig. 4 is a section along the line I-I in Fig. 1,

looking in the direction of the arrows, and showmechanism, direction ofing the driving-connection between.y the clutch casing and the clampingplate and also the pivotal connection of the operating link tothe plate;and Flg. 5 is an enlarged section along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1,` lookingin the direction of the arrows, and showing the locking means forholding the adjusting rings in any 'determined position.

5l Befmfing t0' Flgrl., the numeral III designates `or plate 25 which islocated between the discs 20 a driving member, such as a flywheel orother part, which is suitably connected -to a power source (not shown).A clutch casing II, composed of the separable, complementary parts I2`and I3, is secured to one face of the flywheel by ,5 bolts I4. It willbe understood, however, that the direction of drive through themechanism hereinafter described may be reversed without disturbing theoperating relation of the several components of the mechanism.Accordingly, 10 designation of the flywheel I0 or the clutch cas,- ingII, as a driving element, and also of showing the casing fastened to theflywheel, is intended by way of example only.

One end of a drive shaft I5 is journaled in a`15 bearing I6 carried bythe casinglpart I2 and located in axial alignment with the axis of theywheel, while the opposite end lof the shaft may be appropriatelysupported in any desired manner. The sliaft has keyed thereto adjacentthe,20 casing part I2 a. hub I 'I provided with an ex ternally toothed,annular ange IBVthat is in constant mesh withsimilar teeth provided onthe inner periphery of a ring I 9 to which is secured a friction disc'20whose opposite faces may be pro-s 25 vided with suitable frictionmaterial. The disca 20 is located adjacent the inner face of the casingpart lI2 and a similar friction disc 2| is disposed adjacent the innerface of the Acasing part I3. The disc 2| is securedto a ring 22 whosennerperiphery hastoothed driving engagement with a drive sleeve 23 thatsurrounds andis concentric with the shaft I5. 'I'he sleeve is supportedentirely clear of the shaft by means of a bearing 24 which is interposedbetween the hubA Iiv and one end of the sleeve and the opposite A end issupported by any suitable means (not shown).

The shaft I5 and sleeve 23 might be regarded as elements for.transmitting direct and reverse` drives, assuming their connection to aproper gear mechanism, or they may be connected to a pair of separatemechanisms which it is desired to selectively operate by engaging eitherclutch. These two clutches are respectively constituted by the casingpart I2 and friction disc 20 and .f

the casing part I3 'and friction disci 2|'. Engagement of theseclutches, respectively, is accomplished by means of a `-common clampingmember and 2|'. Driving engagement between the plate and the clutchcasing is effected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs 26which extend outwardly from the periphery .of the plate throughsimilarly ced slots 2'I cutjin the anu nular wall of the clutch part I3.In the present construction, these clutches are of the 4dry plate typeas permitted by the use of the enclosed clutch casing, but the mechanismmay also be designed to provide for an operation of these clutches inoil spray or a dipping in oil, as circumstances may require.

As shown in Fig. 1, the clutches are occupying a neutral position andthe distance between the opposed faces of the casing parts I2 and I3 issuch that, when the clamping plate is occupying the intermediateposition shown, the friction discs i9 and 20 may freely shift endwise tooccupy positions out ,of contact with the faces of the plate 25 and thecasing parts I2 and I3.

The engagement of the clutches is effected through a plurality ofoperators which are equispaced around the shaft I5 and, since each of.the operators is identical in construction, it will only be necessaryto describe one of them in detail. As many of these operators may beemployed as circumstances require and, in the present instance, forexample, four of these operators are shown.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the driving lug 26 is intermediately slottedto pivotally receive one end of an operating link 23 that extends towardthe right, as viewed in Fig. 1, through the slot 21 for pivotalconnection to one arm of a lever 26that is pivoted between its ends on abracket 29 carried by the casing part I3. The inner end of the lever 29is pivotally connected to the mid-point of Va dual link structure 30 androtatably supported between the elements of the structure at each endthereof is a roller 3|. When the parts are occupying the neutralposition illustrated in Fig. 1, the link 36 is generally normal to thelever 29 and, due to the mid-point connection of the link to the lever,there is no tendency for either roller 3| to move outwardly under theimpulse of centrifugal force.` The advantage of this construction willbe described more particularly hereinafter.

- The inner end of the lever 29 and the link 30 are substantially housedwithin a chamber defined by a slot 32 cut in the tubular extension 33which is coaxial with the principal axis of the mechanism and which iscarried by the casing part I3, opposed, inclined, annular flanges 34which are located on opposite sides of the lever 29 and each of whichforms part of an adjusting ring that is threaded on the extension 33,and an offset portion of the wall of a sleeve'36 which slides within andis carried by the extension 33 and which offset forms the opposed,inclined walls 31. m the operation of the device, one wall 34 coactswith the adjacent wall 31 and it will be noted that the functionalsurfaces thereof are V-related for a purpose presently explained.

Each ring 35 is maintained in any adjusted position by cutting a slot 36(see Fig. 5) from the peripheral wall thereof to a depth. sumci'ent toexpose a parti-circular portion of the threads of the extension 33 and apin 33 is bridged between the walls of the slot. Encircling this pin isone end of a wire 40 whose opposite end is cut to a length suflicient toprovide a slender finger 4I which is gripped against the threads of theextension by means of a set screw 42. New positions of the adjustingring may vbe effected from time to time simply by withdrawing the setscrew sufcently to relieve the pressure of the nger 4|, making theadjustment and again clamping the finger in locking position.

.against the wall left due to the inclination of this wall.

In order to shift the sleeve 36 endwise, the inner race of a ballbearing 43 encircles the sleeve between a shoulder 4,4 provided thereonand a stop ring 45, while the outer race of the bearing is similarlygripped between a shoulder` 46 provided on an operating collar 48 and astop ring 41 carried by the same collar. Trunnion pins 43 are formed onthe collar and may be suitably engaged by a shifting fork (not shown),or any other desired operating device.

In describing the operation of my improved mechanism, it will beunderstood that either inclined wall 31 constitutes the primary elementof a device for actuating the operating mechanism represented by thelever 29 and the associated parts and that the wall 34 functions as thesecondary element during this operation; also, that, when the parts areoccupying the neutral position shown in Fig. 1, the rollers 3| rest uponthe surfaces of the walls 31 and so tend to maintain the clamping plate25 in the neutral posiltion due to the fact that the link 30 is pivotedat its mid-point and hence there is no tendency for this link to rotateabout its pivot under the impulse of centrifugal force.

If now it is desired to clamp 2| against the casing part I3, movedtoward the during this operation, the right roller 3| rides outwardlyalong the adjacent wall 31 and eventually bears against the adjacentinclined wall 34 as an abutment to thereby cause a clockwise rocking ofthe lever 29 and a shifting of the clamping plate 25 toward the right.

During this operation, it will be particularly noted that the vthefriction disc the sleeve 36 is 34, is also moved toward the Thisoperation is essentially in the nature of a pinching action in which thewalls 31 and 34 operate as the jaws of the pincer, but with the wall 31moving relatively to the other wall. Eventually, the sleeve 36 is movedto the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and, at this time, the rightroller `3| rests on the cylindrical surface of the sleeve and bearsagainst the wall 34, so that the operating elements of the clutch aresubstantially locked in the engaged position.

When the sleeve is moved from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 towardthat illustrated in Fig. 1, the right roller 3| finally rides inwardlyalong the wall 31 and this action is facilitated by the natural tendencyof the clamping plate 25 to release itself as the clamping pressure isdecreased.

To engage the other clutch device, it is simply necessary to shift thesleeve 36 toward the right from the position illustrated in Fig. 1,whereupon a similar action will take place, `except that, in this case,the left roller 3| cooperates with the left wall 34 and left wall 31.

The foregoing mechanism may be embodied in an arrangement that is quitecompact and in which the respective clutches are engaged by the simpleoperation of shifting the sleeve 36 from one position to another. Due tothe relation of the link 36-to the operating lever 25 and of the roller3| to the coacting, inclined walls 34 and 31, it is possible to lockthis clutch in the engaged position, or to maintain the clamping platein the neutral position without requiring the use of any springs. Anydesired endwise movement of the clamping plate 25 may be effected byappropriately relating the angularity of the coacting walls 31 and 34 inconjunction with the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, and,

l35 right roller 3|, while bearing the invention is also capable ofadaptation to y multiple disc clutches.

I claim: K

1. In clutch mechanism, the combination of clutch devices connectedto'separate rotary parts, a clamping member connected to one of thedevices and shiftable to drivably connect both devices, a lever pivotedon one of the devices and connected to the member, a link pivoted on thelever, and means engageable with the free end of the link comprisingparts fixed and movable relative to the link, respectively, the movablepart swinging the link about its pivot against an inclined surfaceprovided on the xed part to thereby rock the lever to shift the memberto driving position.

2. In clutch mechanism, the combination of clutch devices connected toseparate rotary parts, a clamping member connected to one of the devicesand shiftable to drivably connect both devices, a lever pivoted on oneYof the devices and connected to the member, a link pivoted on the lever,and means engageable with the free end of the link comprising partsfixed and movable relative to the link, respectively, the xed part beingcarried by an extension provided on one of the devices and the movablepart swinging the link about its pivot against an inclined surfaceprovided on the xed part to thereby rock the lever and shift the memberto driving position.

3. In clutch mechanism, the combination of clutch devices connected toseparate rotary parts, a clamping member connected to one of the devicesand shiftable to drivably connect both devices, a lever pivoted on oneof the devices and connected to the member, a link pivoted on the lever,and means engageable with the free end of the link comprising parts xedand movable relative to the link, respectively, the movable part beingsupported by an extension provided on one `of the devices and swingingthe link about its pivot against an inclined surface provided on the xedpart to thereby rock the lever and shift the member to drivingposition.v

4. In clutch mechanism, the combination of clutch devices connected toseparate rotary parts,

a clamping member connected to one-of the devices and shiftable todrivably connect both devices, a lever pivoted on one of the devices andconnected to the member, a link pivoted on the lever, and meansengageable with the free end of the link comprising parts fixed andmovable relative to the link, respectively, both parts being carried byan extension provided on one of the devices and the movable partswinging the link about its pivot against an inclined surface providedon the xed part to thereby rock and shift the member to driving positio5. In clutch mechanism, the combination of clutch devices connected toseparate rotary parts, a clamping member connected to one ofthe devicesand shiftable to drivably connect both devices, a lever pivotedon one ofthe devices and connected to. the member, a link-pivoted on the lever,and pinching means for rocking the lever to shift the member comprisingcoacting parts having angularly disposed surfaces engageable with an endof the link, one'of-the parts being movable relative to the other.

6. In clutch mechanism; the combination of clutch devices connected toseparate rotary parts, a clamping member connected to oneiozl the dethelever" vices and shiftable to drivably connect both devices, a leverpivoted on one of the devices and connected to the melriber, a linkpivoted on the lever, and pinching means for shifting the lever toclamping lposition comprising coacting parts 5 having angularly disposedsurfaces engageable with an end of the link, one of the parts beingmovable relative to the other and the other part being carried by anextension provided on one of the devices.

l0 7. In clutch mechanism, the combination of clutch devices connectedto separate rotary parts,

a clamping 'member connected to one of the de-1.

vices and shiftable to drivably connect both de vices, a lever pivotedon one of the connected to the member, a link pivoted on the lever, andpinching means for shifting the lever to clamping position comprisingco-actingparts having angularly disposed surfaces engageable with an endof the link, one of the movable relative to the other.and both partsbeing carried by an extension provided on one of the devices.. Y

8. In clutch' mechanism, the combination of' clutch devices connected toseparate rotary parts, one of the devices having a tubular extensionccaxial with' the' principal axis of the mechanism, a

clamping member connected to one of the devices and shiftable todrivably connect both devices, a

. lever pivoted on one of the devices and connected 30 to the member andextending towards the axis, a link pivoted on the lever, a sleeveslidable in the extension, and an adjusting ring threaded on theextension, the sleeve and ring having angularly disposed surfacesengageable with an end of the link to shift vthe same and the connectedleve to clamping position. i

9. In clutch mechanism, the combination of clutch devices connected toseparate rotary parts, one of the devices having a tubular extension co-40 axial with the principal axis of the mechanism, a

clamping member connected to one of the devices Y and lshiftable todrivably connect both devices, av lever pivoted on one of the devicesand connected to the member and extending toward the axis, a 45 linkpivoted on the lever, a sleeve slidable in Vthe extension, andanadjusting ring threaded on theextension, a portion of the wall of thesleeve being offset to form a wall angularly disposed to a sec- AondWall provided on the ring, and/the walls being engageable with the kfreeend of the link to shift the same and the connected lever to clampingposition.

' 10. In clutch mechanism, the combination of a pair of clutches, aclamping member common to both clutches and shiftable to engage eitherclutch,v a lever pivoted on an element forming a part of each clutch andconnected to the member,- a link intermediately'pivoted on the lever,and

means engageable with either end of the link 00 comprising a commonmovable part and apart ilxed relative to each link end, the movable partswinging the link about its pivot in either direction against an`inclined surface provided von the associated xed part to thereby rockthe lever and Q5 shift the member to engaging position.

11. In clutch mechanism, the combination of a pair of clutches, aclamping member common to both clutches and shiftable to engage eitherclutch, a lever pivoted'on an element forming a 70 part of each clutchand connected to the member, a link lntermediately pivoted on the lever,and means engageable with either end of the link comprising a commonmovable part and a part fixed relative to each link end, respectively,and 7l devices and 15 parts being 20 carried by an extension provided onthe element, the movable part swinging the link about its pivot ineither direction against an inclined surface provided on the associatedfixed part to thereby rock the lever and shift the member to engagingposition.

12. In clutch mechanism, the combination of a pair of clutches, aclamping member common to both clutches and shiftable to engage eitherclutch, a lever pivoted on an element forming a part of each clutch andconnected to the member, a link intermediately pivoted on the lever, andmeans engageable with either end of the link comprising a common movablepart supported by an extension provided on the element and a partrespectively xed relative to each' link end, the movable part swingingthe link about its pivot in either direction against an inclined surfaceprovided on the associated fixed part to thereby ro'ck the lever andshift the member to engaging position.

13. In clutch mechanism, the combination of a pair of clutches, aclamping member common to both clutches and shiftable to engage eitherclutch, a lever pivoted on an element forming a part of each clutch andconnected to the member. a link intermediately pivoted-on the lever, andmeans engageable with either end of the link comprising a common movablepart and a part respectively fixed relative to each link end, both partsbeing carried by an extension provided on the element and the .movablepart swinging the link about its pivot in either direction against aninclined surface provided on the associated fixed axial with theprincipal axis of l a pair of spaced members on the extension each partto thereby rock the lever and shift the member to engaging position.

14. In clutch mechanism, the combination of a pair of clutches, aclamping member common to both clutches and shiftable to engage eitherclutch, a lever pivoted on an element forming a part of each clutch andconnected to the member, a link intermediately pivoted on the lever, atubular extension carried by the element cothe mechanism,

having a wall angularly disposed to the other, and a sleeve slidable inthe extension and having a portion of its wall offset to form a pair ofspaced walls, each sleeve 4wall being angularly disposed to an adjacentwall on the extension and'acting, respectively, to swing the link aboutits pivot against the adjacent extension wall when the sleeve is movedin either direction to thereby shift the clamping member to engage theassociated clutch.

15. In clutch mechanism. the combination of a pair of clutches, aclamping member common to both clutches and shiftable to engage eitherclutch, a lever pivoted on an element forming a part of each clutch andconnected to the memyber, a link intermediately pivoted on the lever,

a tubular extension carried by the element coaxial with the principalaxis of the mechanism, a pair of spaced adjusting rings threaded on theextension each having a wall angularly disposed to-the other, and asleeve slidable in the extension and having a portion of its wall offsetto form a pair of spaced walls, each sleeve wall `being angularlydisposed to an adjacent ring wall and acting, respectively to swing thelink about its pivot against the coacting ring wall when the sleeve ismoved in either direction to thereby shift the clamping member to engagethe associated clutch.

16. In clutch mechanism, the combination of a pairof clutches,a'clamping member common to both clutches and shiftable to engage eitherclutch, a lever pivoted on an element forming a part of each clutch andconnected to the member, a iink pivoted at its mid-point on the lever, atubular extension carried by the element coaxial with the principal axisof the mechanism, a pair 'of spaced members on the extension each havinga wall angularly disposed to the other, and a sleeve slidable in theextension and having a portion of its wall oilset to form a pair ofspaced walls, each sleeve wall being angularly disposed to an adjacentwall on the extension and being symmetrically disposed relative to theends of thelink, the sleeve walls acting, respectively, to swing thelink about its pivot against the coacting extension walls when thesleeve is moved in either direction to thereby shift the l clampingmember to engage the associated clutch and acting conjointly to maintainthe clamping member in neutral position.

17. In clutch mechanism, the combination of clutch devices connected toseparate rotary parts, one of the devices having a tubular extensioncoaxial with the principal axis ofthe mec-hanism, a clamping memberconnected to one of the devices and shiftable to drivably connect bothdevices, a lever pivoted on one of the devices and connected to themember, va link pivoted on the lever, a sleeve slidable in theextension, and means engageable with the free end of the link comprisinga part fixed relative to the link and carried by the tubular extensionand a part movable relative to the link and carrled by the sleeve, themovable p'art swinging the link about its pivot against an inclinedsurface provided on the fixed part to thereby rock the lever and shiftthe member to driving position.

DONALD W. MORRIS.

